Hubert Baija, Senior Conservator of Frames and Gilding, has been responsible for overseeing the conservation of the frame collection at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam since 1990. Numbering over 7000 frames that are now accessioned and inventoried as works of art in their own right, Baija has had the opportunity to treat frames of different styles and condition […]

Those who have beheld the Hall of Northwest Coast Indians at the American Museum of Natural History and its extraordinary “totem poles” will instantly recognize the potential scope of any study or treatment of such massive artifacts. These objects are housed in the earliest wing of the museum, curated at its inception by Franz […]

Alex Carlisle presented a fascinating and detailed treatment of the pulpit in Fort Herkimer Church, German Flatts, New York (http://fortherkimerchurch.org/7.html). The church has a long history; the current structure dates to 1767, with many additions and expansion in war and peacetime. The pulpit was added in the early 19th century, and seems to be completely […]

Nolley and Gillis treated a 17th century Pennsylvania German shrank which is a rare example with surviving original painted finish including faux burl wood graining and colorful decorative ornaments. Shrank is a German word for wardrobe; many such cabinets were made in America by immigrants, using locally available woods. As with other types of furniture, […]

Catherine Coueignoux presented an exciting treatment of the Augustus Rex (c.1750) writing cabinet in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum (W.63-1977 http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O74665/writing-cabinet-kimmel-michael/# ) The elaborate ormolu mounts had been previously re-gilded. Before treatment were coated with a thick layer of dirt and dust over a shoe polish-like wax treatment, which was possibly added […]

In his presentation, Alan Miller, Assistant Conservator in Paintings Conservation at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, showcased recent developments of spring-loaded secondary supports attached to the back of panel paintings. He began by reviewing how usual 19th and 20th century treatment of warped panel paintings involved severe thinning of panels along with […]

In his talk, Gordon Hanlon discussed a project that started at the Museum of Art Boston (MFA) in 2005 around a controversy regarding the date of manufacture of a side chair by Philadelphia furniture maker and carver Benjamin Randolph (1721-1791). In his 1972 book American Chairs, Queen Anne and Chippendale, John Kirk argued that a […]

The presentation by William P. Brown and Dr. Adele De Cruz was an awe inspiring glimpse at the future of conservation. Through the collaboration of the North Carolina Museum of Art and conservation scientists from the University of Pisa and Duke University, an intractable layer of cross-linked drying oil, animal glues, and pigmented varnish was removed from the […]

As the title indicates this paper is the second part of a treatment that was discussed at last year’s session, and subsequently implimented during the past year. It brings up some fascinating and controversial issues and I admire Tad’s courage and boldness in presenting it to the profession. In short he totally refinished and recolored […]

As a conservation student entering my first year of graduate study this fall, I was at first intimidated by the topic at hand and the thought of relaying this information to the conservation community, potentially including research scientists, techs, and seasoned conservators who may have a jump-start on understanding these concepts, their implementation, and design execution. […]

CALL FOR PAPERS JULY 21ST – 22ND, 2014, HIBULB CULTURAL CENTER AND NATURAL HISTORY PRESERVE, TULALIP, WASHINGTON The call for papers for Poles, Posts and Canoes: the Preservation, Conservation and Continuation of Native American Monumental Wood Carving (July 21st – 22nd, 2014, Tulalip, Washington) has been extended to February 28th, 2014. We still have a […]

In addition to Rose Cull’s presentation on contacting the contemporary artist, or not, is a single case study by Tad Fallon. The object in question is a “Kosode” form cabinet titled “Meet Mr. Chips” by the California furniture maker, John Cederquist. I encourage everyone to check the website for images of other Kosode cabinets. The cabinet […]

I had really been looking forward to this presentation, especially as there were two WAG session presentations on the same topic, and Rose did not disappoint. Rose began her presentation with some solid background information and began by defining contemporary art as being created by living artists, meaning I believe that the artist and viewer […]

There’s a growing body of publications which detail the features of well-provenanced period upholstery. Such case studies are extraordinarily important for comparison when one is examining upholstery layers on historic seating furniture. In this presentation, Genivieve Bienisoek walked us through her examination and treatment, working together with Anne Battram and Nancy Rosebrock, of a chair […]

As a furniture conservator who was fascinated by sailing ships in his childhood, and spent many hours carving and building ship models, I was eagerly awaiting Nicole Wittig’s presentation on the preservation efforts regarding the schooner Virginia, which is currently in a storage shed at the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia. Looking […]

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Conservators Converse is the blog of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC). We encourage AIC members and interested parties to join in on the conservation about what conservators do, how they do it and where they work. AIC does not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed in the independent posts; nor does AIC vet position announcement postings. We encourage job seekers to conduct their own research to determine if the advertised position is right for them. Have something to contribute? Please contact our e-Editor using the email contact form to the right.